Today, Rio Grande do Sul, the most southerly state in Brazil bordering Uruguay and Argentina, celebrates the Farroupilha (Ragamuffin) Revolution, a civil uprising that began in 1835 when the state fought for independence from the rest of the nation.
The rebels were led by generals Bento Gonçalves da Silva and Antônio de Sousa Neto. Despite the support of Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi, the gaucho-led revolt ended in 1845 with surrender, and Rio Grande do Sul remaining part of Brazil.
Even though the uprising resulted in defeat, the conflict is a source of regional pride, with partying across the whole of the state, although it’s in the capital Porto Alegre where the action really happens. For most of September, thousands of people camp out in the city’s Harmonia Park, recreating traditional gaucho lifestyles at the Farroupilha Camp.
Today is Nepali Constitution Day (Sambidhaan Diwas). This is treated as the National Day of Nepal and celebrates the adoption of the current Constitution on this day in 2015. In most countries, National Day takes place on their Independence Day. Through all its history of border expansion and contraction, Nepal has never been colonized and ruled by foreigners, which means Nepal doesn’t celebrate an Independence Day.
This was the first full-fledged constitution to be drafted by democratically elected representatives after the South Asian country became a federal democratic republic in 2008 following the overthrow of the 240-year monarchy. The process to enact a new Constitution has been a drawn-out one, with several efforts to produce a new Constitution drafted since 2008.
The 2015 Constitution restructured Nepal into a federal republic, dividing the nation into seven provinces. It also completed the transition of Nepal from constitutional monarchy to republicanism and from a unitary system to federalism.
Not very nice…
Today is the birthday, in 1935, of Nick Massi from American rock and pop band The Four Seasons who had the 1960s hits ‘Sherry’, ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, ‘Walk Like a Man’, and the 1976 UK & US No.1 single ‘December 1963, (Oh What A Night’). They are one of the best-selling musical groups of all time, having sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide. Massi died on 24th December 2000. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG1JnZ-eOHg
Today is Pang Lhabsol, an important festival in Sikkim. The festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th month of the Tibetan calendar, corresponding to late August/early September.
This festival is unique to Sikkim and commemorates the consecration of Mount Khangchendzonga as the guardian deity of Sikkim. It is believed that the mountain god played an active role in introducing Buddhism into this former kingdom.
According to a handwritten biography by Lhatsun Chenpo, the chief propagator of Buddhism in Sikkim, it was divine visions sent by the mountain god which guided him to Demajong (the hidden valley of rice, as the Bhutias refer to Sikkim). Pang means ‘to witness’, and on this day the mountain god is invoked and prayed upon at Pang Lhabsol to continue protecting Sikkim.
The ‘chaams’ which are part of this festival are unique and the spectacular Pangtoed or warrior dance was choreographed by the third Chogyal Chador Namgyal, who is said to have appeared to him in a vision.
The festival also marks the commemoration of blood brotherhood sworn between the Lepchas and the Bhutias at Kabi in the 15th century.
Today is the Fourth Day of Onam, a Hindu festival celebrated by the Malayali people of Kerala, India. Originally a harvest festival, it is the state festival of Kerala. The festival falls during the Malayalam month of Chingam (which usually falls in August or September) and marks the annual homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali who the Malayalees consider as their King.
The legend is that King Mahabali, also known as Bali was an Asura ruler during Hindu antiquity who was so powerful and adored by his subjects, that the followers of Hindu god Vishnu feared that Bali was getting more popular than their deity.
Vishnu disguised himself as a dwarf called Vamana. Vamana tricked Bali by asking for a piece of land he could cover in only three strides. When Bali agreed to this modest request by a dwarf, Vamana turned into a giant and his first step covered the earth and the second took him to heaven. With nowhere else to go, Bali offered his head as the third step. Vamana stepped on Bali pushing him down into to the underworld. Bali asked if he could be allowed to return once a year on Thiruvonam (the second day of Onam) to visit his people to make sure they were well, and Vamana agreed.
To welcome Bali home for his annual visit, the people of Kerala clean their homes and make elaborate floral displays called Pookkalam on the ground as a carpet to welcome Bali. They perform Kathakali, one of the major forms of classical Indian dance.
BADA BING!
That feeling you get when you’re the tech person in the family and you hear that grandma got a new phone.
I know it’s hard for some people to believe, but it’s entirely possible to have a fulfilling, rewarding life without owning an AR-15.
About to pull some steaks off the grill. It’s my neighbor’s grill, but he went inside and I don’t think he can see me.
If there’s watermelon, shouldn’t there be earthmelon, firemelon, and airmelon? The elemelons.
The leading cause of injury in old men is them thinking they are still young men.
Walmart thinks I want to put up my Christmas tree and eat turkey while wearing my Halloween costume.
The last time I danced like nobody was watching, someone stabbed me with an EpiPen.
Running feels great unless you compare it to not running.
The debate? Normally men have to pay to be dominated like that.
Them: She had special earrings that made her win.
Us: How would her earrings make him say incredibly stupid shit?
Her ability to stop herself from saying “this motherfucker” on national television requires the kind of willpower most of us could never dream of.
I set a new culinary milestone today. I set off the neighbor’s smoke alarm.
Most people don’t know that the opposite of a Croissant is actually a happy uncle.
I’m still amazed at how many people can confuse the term ‘…doing their research’ with the action ‘…conclusion-shopping their insane hypothesis’.
Today is the birthday, in 1923, of Hank Williams (born Hiram King Williams). The American singer-songwriter and musician is regarded as one of the most important country music artists of all time. Williams recorded 35 singles (five released posthumously) that would place in the Top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, including 11 that ranked No.1. During his last years Williams’s consumption of alcohol, morphine and painkillers severely compromised his professional life. Williams died aged 29 on January 1, 1953. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjCoKslQOEs
Today is Mexican Independence Day. Also known as ‘Día de la Independencia’ or ‘Grito de Dolores’, it marks the anniversary of the Mexican War of Independence against Spain on September 16th 1810.
Specifically, it commemorates a proclamation by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on September 16th 1810, in the village of Dolores, near Guanajuato. Hidalgo’s proclamation called for an end to Spanish rule in Mexico, encouraging rebellion and insurrection against the Spanish.
The Spanish Empire had been broken by Napoleon’s invasion of Spain, and imperial rule had been replaced by “juntas” in both Spain and the American colonies, while King Fernando VII was being held hostage by Napoleon.
Following his speech, Father Hidalgo raised an army and attempted to overthrow the Junta government, but he was eventually defeated. As his struggle against the establishment continued, he began to demand the full independence of all the Spanish American colonies, and the exile or arrest of all Spaniards within Mexico.
It was only after a ten year long War of Independence that Mexico’s independence was finally acknowledged by the Spanish viceroy on September 27th 1821.
Since the 1870s, re-enacting the proclamation has become a tradition. Every year, the national celebration begins on the night of September 15th. The Zócalo, one of the world’s largest city squares, serves as the focal point for the festivities in Mexico City, where over 500,000 people assemble each year.
The Mexican President rings Hidalgo’s bell (now kept at the National Palace in Mexico City) and repeats Hidalgo’s words at 11:00 pm on September 15th. The patriotic yell is met with an enthusiastic response of “Viva!” from the cheering throng. At the conclusion, spectacular pyrotechnics illuminate the night sky.
Today is the birthday, in 1950, of avid Bellamy, Bellamy Brothers, (1976 US No.1 single ‘Let Your Love Flow’, 1979 UK No.3 single ‘If I Said I Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me’). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ5aF7kbwCE
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